Line-reel.



P. BERGEVIN,

LINE REEL. APPLlCATlON FILED SEPT. 11. l9l5- Patented July 16, 1918.

2 SHEETS SHEET1 G. P; BERGEVlN.

LINE REEL.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17. 1915. 1,272,36 1 Patented July 16,1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

ans/v I GEORGE r. rnnenvm, or once, new YORK.

LINE-REEL.

To all-whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. BERGnVIN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Utica, in the county of Oneida, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Line- Reels, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description."

- This invention relatesto certain improvementsin line reels adapted to be used more particularly for reeling fish lines, and involves the use of a spring motor for rotating the reel in one direction to take up the line, in combination with suitable brake mechanism operable at will'yto retard or. release the reel.. a

It is obviousjthat in motor-driven reels of this character, the winding efliciency of the motor spring in a single operation without re-winding is necessarilylimite'd to a more or less definite-number of linear units so that when a game fish is hooked it frequently happens that the line is drawn out to a length many times the capacity of the motor to re-wind it in a single operation, thus necessitating frequent re-winding of the spring which, of course, momentarily detracts the attention-of the operator and re.-

sults inthe loss of the fish or fouling of the line;

continually to draw it nearer to the operator, and at the same time to obviate excessive strains upon the line by sudden dashes of the game.

The main object of, my present invention is to increase the of this character.

First, by providing an auxiliary motor capable of operating the reel to continue the winding of the line thereon after the power of the main motoris exhausted.

Second, by providing a more convenient and positive brake-control for the reel in which the brake-operating member is less liable to become accidentally displaced from its normal or set positions by contact with external objects in the manipulation of the .pole with the reel thereon.

Third, by providing simple means for re- Specification of Letters Fatcnt.

The main purpose of the spring is not only general eiiiciency of reels Patented July is, was.

Application filed September 17, 1915. Serial No. 51,208.

leasing the brake and looking it in its released position to allow free operation of the reel by either the main or auxiliary motors. Other objects and uses will be brought out inthe followingidescription.

i In the drawings p Figure 1 is a perspective View of thehandleend of a fish pole with 'my improved reel mounted thereon.

Fig.2 is an enlarged central sectional view of the reel, taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Figs.'3, 4 and 5 are sectional views of-the same reel, taken, respectively, in the planes of lines 33, 4:4, and 5, 2.

Fig. 6is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the main motor spring straightened out.

Fig; 7 is a perspective view of the brake. The reel illustrated is adapted to be secured coaxially to the handle end of a fish pole ,A and comprises a circular frame 1 having one side provided with a radial hollow boss 2 for receiving the reduced inner end wof the pole to which it is secured by aset screw 3, said frame being made of a single piece of cast or stamped metal, preferably aluminum, and is formed with circumferentially elongatedv slots or openings 4cextending in opposite'directions from the hollow boss 2- for the purpose of reducin the weight of the reel, the

portion of the rame diametrically opposite the boss 2-- constituting a connectlng web which, together with the boss '2, serves to hold the portions of the frame at opposite sides of the slots or openings --4- in fixed relation without screws or other extra fastening means.

The hollow made separate from the circular frame -l, but is secured to the periphery thereof by screws 6, as shown more clearly in he face width of the frame is substantially the same throughout its circumferential length and approximately equal to the diameter of the adjacent portion of the. boss 2, which latter is centrally secured thereto so that the sides of the boss are substantially co-incident with the ends of the frame. 1

It is'now clear thatfwhen. the circular boss 2 is, in this instance,

frame is assembled on the end of the pole the produced axis of the pole extends diametri- .cally through the frame.

This frame 1 is preferably cup-shape,-

A cap 8 is similarly provided with an annular marginal flange, fitted upon the periphery of the closed end of the frame 1- to rotate thereon and forms with the plate -1' a motor case orhousing for a main motor spring 9-.

erative position upon the frame 1- by meansof a single co-axial bolt 10 passed through central openings in the caps and plate ,1- and having one end provided with a head engaging the outer face of the cap 7, while the opposite'end is provided with a reduced threaded portion en.-

gaged by a nut 11 to retain the cap -8 in place against outward displacement, the reduced threaded portion ofthe bolt forming a shoulder against which the nut 11 abuts to prevent excessive binding of the rotary cap 8-, thereby allowing the lat-.

ter to be turned freely by the motor spring 9.

One end of this spring is secured to a suithand for winding able stud 12 in the periphery of the cap spindle -10, as shown more clearly in the surface of the plate +1' when the .-8 and its inner end is secured to a stud or projection 13 on a sleeve 14 which is loosely journaled upon the bolt or Fig. 2', the spring being Wound in such .manner that when the sleeve 14 is held against turning and the cap -8 isturned by hand to the right, Fig. 5,-the spring will be wound up ortensioned, whereupon if the cap is held against turning and the sleeve 14 is released, the latter will be rotated in the same dire ction as that in which the cap 8' was, turned. in winding up the spring.

In order that the cap 8- may be held against retrograde movement, a spring pawl +15 is secured thereto and adapted to move into registration with. any one of a circular row of apertures 16 which are formed in the plate -1 of the frame +1 equal distances apart about the axis of the bolt -'10*, the portion of the pawl 15 which enters the apertures being beveled on one side to permit it to trail over cap 8 is rotated to the right or in the direction for Winding the spring 9-, the opposite face of the pawl being abrupt .section or cap 8- to a The caps 7' and 8- are held in op-' to cooperate with the apertures in prevent-- tion thereof, thereby producing 'a central lengthwise stiffening rib 17 extending from the outer end toward the inner end and gradually reducing in width and radial depth toward the inner end which is substantially fiat. f

The sleeve 14. to which the inner end of the spring motor 9 is attached extends from the outer wall of the motor case point in proximity to the outer wall of the cap 7, and upon the end of the sleeve 14, nearest the cap .7 is secured a crank arm "18 carrying a spindle 19 upon which is journald a gear 20 and co-axial pini011 DQ].

The pinion 21 meshes with an internal circular rack -22- which is secured by bolts or screws '23 to and within the cap 7, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. J ournaled upon the sleeve -14 is a gear sleeve -2-fl having a pinion 25 meshing with the gear 20, thereby establishing connection between the sleeve '14. and gear sleeve 2L the crank arm 18 being secured to the sleeve 1 1 by meansof a' set screw 18 to rotate therewith in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter more fully described.

A drum or spool '26 upon which the line is adapted to be wound is loosely journaled upon the gear sleeve 24- within the circular frame 1, and preferably consists of a pair of sheet'metal disks having cup-shape hubs 27 secured together base to base by rivets 28 forming similar annular recesses in their outer faces of considerably greater diameter than that of the sleeve 24 upon which the hub is journaled for receiving a pair of collars 29 and 30 by which the drum or spool is held against endwise or axial movement, said collars being similarly held against endwise movement by a shoulder on the sleeve 2 1 at the inner end of the pinion 25 and a collar 31 on the sleeve -1 .l between the sleeve -24 and main spring 9.

A relatively small and light auxiliary motor spring 32 is mounted in one of the re.- cesses in the hub of the spool 26 around the collar -.30, but is wound in a reverse direction from that of the main spring -+9, and has its outer end attached to the spool and its inner end attached to the collar 30 and is adapted to be wound up or rtensioned by the winding operation of the cap -8 for the main spring 9- so as 'to rotate the spool -26- 'for winding the line thereon after the power of the main spring has been exhausted by unwinding in a manner hereinafter more fully described. V

The collar 30 to which the auxiliary spring 32 is attached is frictionally fitted upon'the periphery of the gear sleeve 24 with a suiiicient degree of friction to cause it to turn with the gear sleeve 24 for winding up or tensioning the auxiliary spring 32, while the spool -2G is being held by the brake, presently described, and the gear sleeve -24 is being rotated by turning the cap 8- in the direction for winding up the main spring 32, that is the friction between the collar -30 and gear sleeve -2 l is sufficient to offset the tension of the auxiliary spring'32 but allows said collar 'to be turned upon said gear sleeve -24 when the coil spring is wound up tight and power is applied to the w spool or reel, as in the act of unwinding the linetherefrom.

A self-acting brake consisting of a spring '33 having a brake s'hoe '34. is secured I the'shoe 34: and'brake springs 37 is eccentric'to ,the axis of the'spool and is engaged by a stud or pin 38 of an operating lever 39 for releasing the brake shoe 34 from itsbraking position when desired.

The lever 39 extends through an opening 10 in one side of the cap 7 nearest the hub 2 ofthe case 1 and. is pivoted at 41 to said cap near the opposite side thereof; that is, the pivots l1 and brake-operating stud-or pin 38 are located at opposite sides of the axis of the drum or spool so as to cause the stud or pin to swing through anarc of'relatively long radius as compared with the radial distance between the axis of the spool and pin,

thus causing the brake shoe to respond quickly under a slight movement of the brake-controlling lever --3-9.

The free end of the brake-controlling le- I ver' extends'some distance beyond the periphery of the cap 7 toward and along one side of the hub 2- and pole A,. and is provided with a finger-piece 42 in close proximity to the handle of the fish pole. Where it can be easily reached for manipulation of the pole without changing the position of the hand in holding the pole, and is also protected more or less by the pole and hand fronrcontact with external objects.

Suitable means is provided for locking the brake-controlling lever in its adjusted position for releasing the brake and also for restoring the lever to itsnormal position when unlocked, the locking means consisting of a spring arm 4c3 secured within the cap .7 by means of a screw 44 or equivalent fastening means, and extends from one side of the cap toward the lever between the axis of the spool and pin 38, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3, the looking member 43 being provided with a shoulder l5 and a rest arm 46 adapted to be engaged by another locking member l7 on the lever -'39-, the locking member 47 being rigid on the lever -.39. and also under spring tension to spring into engagement with the extension '46 and shoulder 45- when the lever 39 is rocked to its brake-releasing position.

The locking member 47 is spring tensioned against the locking member l3 and when the lever 39 is shifted from itsnormal position against the action of a retracting spring 48, the free end of the locking member '47 will engage the shoulder 45 and hold the lever in such position, thereby holding the brake shoe out of engagement with the peri hery of the spool 26, the spring 48 being a continuation of the spring locking member l3 and is of just suflicient tension to return the lever to its normal position when the locking member 47 is disengaged with the shoulder -45-.

This latter operation requires more power than the spring 48 and operates as follows: When finger pressure is brought to bear upon the handle .&2' to trip the looking members from their'locking position, the tendency of the member l7 acting against the shoulder 45' is to spring the arm 43 toward the, periphery of the cap 7 which causes the extension l6-- to exert a prying force against the member47 sufficient to trip it from its locking position, thus permitting the spring 48 to act in holding the lever in its starting position and allowing. the brake,

shoe to assume its braking position.

The object of the brake members 37 is to maintain a certain braking effect upon the spool when the brake shoe is released soas to prevent too free action of the spool.

.If desired, a portion of the spool and a part of the case may be provided with cooperative means for playing certain games similar to dice, and for this purpose one face of the spool or drum is provided with a c rcular row of indicia -Z) arranged in equally spaced relation circumferentially and movable into and out of registration with a sight opening -b' in the ad acent face of the housing, each consisting of a.

different number of points, any one of which is liable to register with the si ht opening when the rotation of the spoo ceases and the interest in the game being produced by the highest number of points registered at eachstop of the spool.

The operations are as follows:

If the line is entirely or nearly wound upon the spool and both of the motor springs are unwound, the brake lever may be adjusted to" release the brake, whereupon the line may be drawn out by hand, thereby rotating the spool 26'- in the direction indicated by arrow -w, Fig. 4, which will cause the winding up of the light auxiliary spring 32 until it has reached its maximum degree of tension, whereupon the brake may be applied to hold the reel against the actlon of said spring, but if released would allow the spring to rotate the spool for rewinding the line thereon. g

If, however, the operator continued to play the line out after the light spring was wound up as tightly as possible, it would tend to wind up the main spring ,9. until the resistance of said main spring exceeded that of the friction between the collar -30 and gear sleeve.24, whereupon the collar would simply slide on said sleeve and allow the line to be drawn out to any/degreeof length after the main spring had been wound to its maximum degree of tension, it being understood that the friction between the collar 30 and sleeve 24l is suflicient --to offset such tension and to permit the collar to slide only when the maximum tension of the main spring is reached, and that the brake when applied is suflicient to hold the spool against the action of the main spring as well as the lighter auxiliary spring.

It is now clear that when the line is out for fishing purposes with both springs 'under tension and held against the action of said springs by the brake, a fish on the line combined resistanceof'both springs and the brake and also against the resistance due to the friction between the collar -30- and,

gear sleeve 24-, but this extra draft on the line by the fish must necessarily be of short duration by reason of the fact that it is beyond the power of the fish to sustain for any long period and as soon as the pull upon the line is relaxed, the brake may be quickly released, whereupon the slack of the line will be instantly taken up by the main'spring, thus drawing the fish nearer toth'e operator by reason of the fact that as soon as the pull upon the line and brake is released, the main spring will instantly rotate the sleeve or hollow spindle -14- and crank arm 18' thereon, thus produc- I ing a planetary. motion of the pinion +21 and gear 20- around the circular rack 22 and rotating the pinion 25 and its sleeve 24 together with the collar 30 and spool 26 at high speed according to the ratio of the intermeshing gears, all of which produces a rapid winding of the line on the spool.

This winding of the line will continue as long as the main spring is under tension, or until it is completely unwound, thereby exerting continued, but resilient pull upon the hooked fish.

If a considerable portion of the line with a fish thereon still remains out after the power of the main spring is completely exhausted by unwinding, the rotation of'the spool .to take up the slack in the linewill still be continued by the, small spring 32-- will then have sufiicien-t time \to'turn the 7 cap -8 any number of turns necessary to keep the small spring under tenslon, or to wind up the main spring for the purpose of 5 adding more and greater motive power for operating the reel until the fish is finally landed.

When a game fish is first hooked with considerable line out, the brake may be applied at will at any time when it may be necessary to check or retardthe progress of the.

fish away from the operator and when such fish is sufliciently exhausted to allow it to be drawn in, the brake may be released and locked in its released position by simply shifting the lever 39' in the proper dlrection for interlocking the members 43 and 47- one with the other, thereby plac- "ing the fish under the brake influence of the motor springs which intime will be suflicient to land such fish withoutliability.

of over-straining "the line.

What I claim "is: 1. In a line-reeling device, the combination of a "spool and a collar co-axial therewith and each rotatable relatively to the other, a" motor-spr ng connecting the collar and spoolto operate the spool, means for frictionally holding the collar against rotation under a resistance exceeding the maxi- .mumpower ofv the spring tending to rotate it, a self-applying brake for the spool, means operable at will for releasing the brake, and means for lockin its releasing position.

the last-named means in y 2. In a line-reeling device, the combina-,

tion of a spool and a collar co-axial there with and each rotatable relatively to the other, a motor-spring connecting the collar' and spool to operate'thc spool, means for frictionally holding the collar against rotation under a resistance exceeding the maxi mum power of the spring tending to rotate it, brake-mechanism for the spool having a brake-shoe and spring brake arms engaging the spool at different points, and means for releasing the brake shoe Without disengaging the brake-arms from said spool.

. 3. In a line-reeling device, the combination of relatively rotatable co-axial sleeves, a spring motor for rotating one of the sleeves, means for transmitting motionfrom such sleeve to the other sleeve, a spool, and means including a coil spring for transmitting motion from the last-named sleeve to the spool.

l. In a line-reeling device, the combination of relatively rotatable co-axial sleeves, a spring 'motor for rotating one of the sleeves, means for transmitting motion from such sleeve to the other sleeve, a spool, a collar frictionally mounted on the lastnamed sleeve to turn therewith, and a motor spring connecting the collar and spool, the

friction between the collar and its sleeve being sufficient to resist the tendency of bot-h springs to rotate such sleeve and collar relatively to each other.

5. In a line-reeling device, the combination of relatively rotatable co-axial sleeves,

a spring motor for rotating one of the sleeves, means for transmitting motion from such sleeve to the other sleeve, a spool, a collar frictionally mounted on the lastnamed sleeve to turn therewith, a motor spring connecting the collar and spool the friction between the collar and its sleeve being sufficient to resist the tendency of both springs to rotate such sleeve and collar relatively to each other, a self-acting brake for the spool, and means operable at Will for releasing the brake.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of September, 1915. GEORGE P. BERGEVIN. lVitnesses:

J. CLIFFORD BARNES, G; G. Jones. 

